Archbishop Slams Use of GM
Crops

Sunday Argus23 May 2004Cindy
Mathys

Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town
Njongonkulu Ndungane has expressed his dismay over the possible use of
genetically engineered crops in this country days before a case in which a
non-governmental organisation is trying to force the Department of Agriculture
to reveal information about genetically engineered food and crops in South
Africa.The case starts in Pretoria
tomorrow.Ndungane said genetic
engineering tinkered with the essence of life.

“Species that would not naturally
reproduce are mixed together.Through
patenting seeds and genes, life forms can now be owned by corporations.Through contamination of natural wildlife and plants, genetic engineering
forever compromises the rights of future generations to a safe, healthy and
diverse environment.”

He added that genetic engineering
threatened rural livelihoods, food security and local control over genetic
resources.

“Patent laws undermine the right of
farmers to save seed, and one of the touted advantages of the patented seed, a
reduction in the need for labour, is in fact disadvantageous when applied in
Africa.”

Ndungane said he regretted that South
Africa had “adopted a relatively cavalier approach” to the controversial
technology.“Do Africans need
genetically engineered food?I
would argue, no.At least, not
until we are certain of the consequences of our actions.Not until we know it is safe, that we can afford it and contain it, that
it is suitable for our farmers and farming systems, that it will not lead to a
reduction in jobs, that it will not destroy biodiversity and that it will not
increase our dependence on rich nations.”

Ndungane added that while many countries
did not approve of the new technology, South Africa was one of the few that had
accepted genetically engineered food.

“Many countries around the world,
including European Union and African countries, have not welcomed this new
farming revolution with open arms,” he said.

“These countries have chosen to
approach the importation and production of genetically modified organisms
cautiously while trying to determine their safety and environmental risks.“In 2002 South Africans became the first people in the world to eat
genetically engineered white maize and more than 300 000 hectares of South
African land had already been planted with a variety of engineered crops.”

If companies promoting genetically
engineered crops really cared about the poor, “they would lobby their
governments to stop subsidising their farmers instead of trying to sell Africa
newly patented seed.”

“To sustain its system of
subsidisation the US exported staple foods at below the cost of production,
undercutting developing countries and undermining their farming sectors.Much of this subsidised overproduction, particularly genetically
engineered crops that had a limited market, ended up as food aid.”